7 Lifestyle Factors that Affect Your Life Insurance Premium

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Your life insurance is affected by a number of factors that primarily includes your age and gender. By using these elements along with the level of benefits, the insurance company will set the premiums you pay each month. However, there is more than just age and gender involved. Your premiums will be affected by the lifestyle choices that you make.

Here are seven choices in lifestyle that will have a negative effect on your life insurance premiums. By addressing each selection, you can reduce the amount you pay each month for your policy.

Smoking

It is common for smokers to pay up to four times as much as non-smokers on their premiums. This is because smoking has been directly linked to lung cancer and heart disease which can considerably shorten your life. Although not everyone who smokes will experience lung cancer or heart disease, enough do that it makes quitting a viable and inexpensive way to lower the premium.

Obesity

While it doesn’t have the impact of smoking, obesity may lead to diabetes, heart disease, and other health issues. By eating right and exercising, you can lower your weight to normal levels and save considerably on your premiums.
High Blood Pressure

It’s the effect on the cardiovascular system that makes high blood pressure so dangerous. This can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other debilitating and life-threatening conditions. The result of which will lead to a raising of your premiums for life insurance. By reducing your high blood pressure, you reduce the rates that you pay.

Drug Abuse

While taking prescription medications may help lower your rates, taking recreational drugs will most likely increase them. This is especially true for heroin, cocaine, or opioids that are not taking under a doctor’s care. The more these drugs are abused, the more it threatens your health and wellbeing. This is why life insurance providers ask for a nicotine test to gauge the level of the substance in your system.

High Cholesterol

This can lead to heart disease if left unchecked. You will need to change your diet in order to reduce the amount of unwanted cholesterol in the body. The good news is that consuming plenty of fiber along with fruits and vegetables can clean away the bad cholesterol from the body while increasing the “good” cholesterol. The result is a lowering of your cholesterol count and lowering the premiums.

Dangerous Employment

It’s no secret that police, firefighters, and others who put their lives on the line will have higher premiums to pay. This is because the chances of getting killed are greater than in other professions. Even those who fly private planes pay higher rates. Ask your insurance company about the risks associated with your employment.

Driving Record

Many insurance companies will look at your driving record. If they see an inordinate number of accidents and moving violations, they will raise your rates. The good news is that most driving records are cleared after a few years, so drive safe.

By making the appropriate corrections to your lifestyle, you can significantly lower what you pay for your life insurance policy.

References:

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/102914/7-factors-affect-your-life-insurance-quote.asp

http://www.insurancequotes.com/life/life-insurance-risky-jobs-hobbies

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